Virgil van Dijk believes Jarell Quansah's blunt assessment of Joel Matip's season-ending injury was ill-timed earlier this month.
The young defender was asked about the potential for more opportunities in the Liverpool first team as a result of Matip's ACL rupture
Quansah gave a surprise reaction by outlining his ambition to leapfrog Matip before his injury
"At the start of the season when I’ve stayed and not gone on-loan I thought I want to play in these games,"
"So obviously, it’s a shame what happened to Joel (Matip) and my condolences go to him.
"But my idea was to try and get over him anyway and try and be a starting centre-back in the Premier League."
Van Dijk says believes the interview was given "too soon" considering the seriousness of Matip's issue
Van Dijk says believes the interview was given "too soon" considering the seriousness of Matip's issue and the fact he was yet to even undergo surgery, the captain put the miscommunication down to Qunasah's inexperience.
Van Dijk
"I think it came across a little bit not in the right way,"
"It's good that he thinks like this in my opinion. But it was maybe too soon (after Matip's injury) for him to say it in the way it came across. I don't think he meant it in that way.
"When I was 20 I'd also maybe say certain things that come across differently.
"I totally understand where he's coming from. But we shouldn't forget what Joel has done for this club and the contribution to the success we've had."
Van Dijk added: "Jarell is doing great and making big steps. He has to keep improving. So far, so good.
"Jarell has dealt outstandingly well with every challenge that's come his way so far.
"He's only 20 years old, he's still growing. As a centre-half, you get better with experience. I was never this far [along], doing it consistently - like Ibou (Ibrahima Konate) and Jarell - when I was that young.
"Jarell is learning and doing well. I'm enjoying playing and working with these guys.
"He just has to keep going. There will be times when it's tough, that's absolutely normal, but it's about how you deal with that.
"He's a good boy. Mentally, he's in the right frame of mind and that's a good start. I'll be there for him, whenever he needs. He'll be just fine."
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